Pfc. Herbert H. “Doc” Burr was a bow gunner in a tank assigned to Company C,
41st Tank Battalion, 11th Armored Division. On January 15, 1945, he earned the
Distinguished Service Cross through his heroic actions in battle. During an
attack north of Noville, Belgium, Pfc. Burr’s tank was hit by anti-tank gun
fire. The Tank commander, Sgt. Jon M. Jones, and gunner, Cpl.. Robert L. Roth
were killed, and the loader was seriously injured. The tank caught on fire and
began to burn. The Bow-Gunner, Pfc. Herbert H. Burr, had seen the flash of the
antitank gun. He remained in the tank, firing his 30 cal. Machine gun. Through
his action, the enemy anti-tank gun crew was pinned down and could not return
fire. His ammunition expended, Pfc. Burr discovered that the injured crew
member, loader David Kasavan, was still alive. Despite the fire in the turret,
he managed to remove the wounded loader from the tank, and assisted him back to
a medical aid station. Pfc. Burr then returned, and discovered that his burning
knocked out tank had not yet exploded. He immediately went towards it, creeping,
crawling, and camouflaging himself with snow until he got up to it. Upon
reaching the tank, he found, found the engine still running. Even though the
tank was on fire and might explode at any moment, he entered the tank and
extinguished the fire. Still under enemy fire, he drove the damaged tank back to
safety. For his bravery under fire, and in complete disregard for his personal
safety, Pfc. Burr was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Pfc. Herbert H.
Burr was born at St. Joseph, MO. He entered service at Kansas City, MO.

Note: For further conspicuous gallantry in action near Dorrmoschel Germany on 19
March 1945, then Staff Sergeant Herbert H. Burr was also awarded the
Congressional Medal of Honor.